murky

adjective

ˈmər-kē How to pronounce murky (audio)
Definition of murkynext
1
as in darkened
being without light or without much light I didn't like walking around the murky campground without a flashlight

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2
as in dark
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer the murky shadows of the cemetery

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3
as in hazy
filled with or dimmed by fine particles (as of dust or water) in suspension skies made murky from the smoke of forest fires that were many miles to the west

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4
as in ambiguous
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning a murky reply to a question about his intentions

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5
as in vague
not seen or understood clearly a gubernatorial candidate with a murky position on the hot-button issue of capital punishment

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of murky Thune has said that support for the budget resolution in his conference remains unclear, and the path forward on a third reconciliation package is murky at best. — Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026 Kris and Billy watch that one together in an intimate sleepover, sinking into the murky texture of a scene in which the virginal actor allowed a jerk to take off her clothes. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026 After bedbugs, roaches, and rat infestations, murky tap water is among the most off-putting experiences in New York City apartment living. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 5 Aug. 2026 Even as the album leans into his softer sound, Shimmy does not plan to abandon the murkier street records that first built his following. — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for murky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for murky
  1. darkened
  2. dark
  3. hazy
  4. ambiguous
  5. vague
  6. bleak
  7. misty
  8. cryptic
Adjective
  • This trend has been pretty pervasive among designer bags recently, with shoppers buying new Prada and Chanel bags with darkened leather to give them a used look, or sourcing vintage Celine bags with obvious signs of wear.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 2 July 2026
  • She’s talked up her push to convert darkened streetlights, many of them stripped of their copper wire, to solar power.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Definition of darkened
Adjective
  • In Helaena’s room, Rhaenyra finds a tapestry Helaena had just finished sewing that predicts a dark and fiery end for Rhaenyra in the future.
    — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026
  • For somewhere closer to home, check a light pollution map and head to an area that looks dark.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of dark
Adjective
  • Crews battled a large fire at a scrap metal yard in North Philadelphia's Hunting Park neighborhood Sunday night, sending thick, hazy smoke into the sky and raising concerns among neighbors who say problems at the property have persisted for years.
    — Eva Andersen, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Across the hall, in a lavender family room, a vintage TV installation by Jennifer stands in a corner playing hazy family videos and iconic cultural moments such as James Brown’s famously bizarre 1988 CNN interview on a loop.
    — Jewel Wicker, Architectural Digest, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of hazy
Adjective
  • Just below, the most ambiguous passage of the work refuses legibility altogether, blending the whites and grays of the child’s shirt with the tones of her fingers and the blue fabric of the chair behind them.
    — Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026
  • This is particularly true for limited series — or any series with ambiguous renewals.
    — Whitney Friedlander, Variety, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of ambiguous
Adjective
  • What happens after that is committed to the good common sense of the client who usually leaves that office with only vague notions about what has been done so far and what needs to be done in the future.
    — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • And the former state attorney general has generally kept his campaign promises broad and vague.
    — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of vague
Adjective
  • Things get increasingly bleak, as the family dog’s heart medicine runs out and Jason has to put him out of his misery, and then — in doomsday prepper mode — carves up the body and puts it in the freezer just in case food gets dire.
    — William Earl, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The article highlights a bleak outlook for young neurodivergent individuals, particularly those with intersecting identities, facing significant structural barriers in the job market.
    — Nancy Doyle, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of bleak
Adjective
  • At Emporio Armani, models walked the runway in gossamer-thin tanks and misty trousers that toed the line between lavender and blue.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 22 June 2026
  • Base yourself in Cerro Verde or Lago de Coatepeque for crater views and misty mornings above the clouds, then climb Santa Ana Volcano.
    — Angelika Pokovba, Travel + Leisure, 26 May 2026
Definition of misty
Adjective
  • Osbourne’s recent cryptic posts follow a TMZ report suggesting that DJ and keyboardist Wilson had been removed from Slipknot after 28 years with the group.
    — Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Kelly Osbourne shared cryptic posts amid rumors of her split with Sid Wilson.
    — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of cryptic

Browse Nearby Words

murks
murky
murmur
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Cite this Entry

“Murky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/murky. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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